Number of workplaces for disabled people is going down

The workplaces for the persons with disabilities have decreased in number. The chairman of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (CNSM) Oleg Budza said the trade union dealing with the blind persons alone reported that only 1,000 places remained of the 10,000, Info-Prim Neo reports. “What’s happening to the persons who lose the job? They also have families and want to earn one’s living,” Oleg Buzda said in a roundtable meeting that involved authorities and representatives of disabled persons. Oleg Budza said they don’t know exactly the percentage of the working persons with disabilities. That’s why they initiated a monitoring activity. The CNSM also signed a cooperation agreement with the Human Rights Center as regards the combating of discrimination against persons with disabilities when they seek employment. Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Valentina Buliga said that about 30% of the approximately 162,000 persons employed are disabled persons. “There is yet no clear system that would present the number of employed persons with disabilities and such a system is now being worked out,” she stated. Participants in the meeting said the persons with disabilities are the first to be fired in case of layoffs. “Such cases should not be tolerated or ignored. These employers must be punished,” said Valentina Buliga. The minister also said that a bill adopted by Parliament in first reading will oblige the employers with over 20 employees to reserve 5% of the workplaces for persons with disabilities. Ombudswoman Aurelia Grigoriu said that most of the persons with disabilities are discriminated by the authorities, especially the local ones. Their rights to go to court or buy property are being violated. “The persons suffering from hearing impairments in Moldova do not have the right to receive a driver’s license. In other states these persons drive vehicles,” she said, adding the disabled persons who are able to work must be offered possibilities of earning ones’ living. According to the statistics for 2010, there are more than 170,000 persons with disabilities in Moldova, 15,000 of whom are children.